by rakesh | Nov 22, 2006 | India News
The five year project (2003-07) of the Government of India with UNDP funds, is to support 5000 women’s groups to promote decentralized management of natural resources, on which the poor including women depend for livelihood, through provisioning of resources and training to women’s groups.
The project aims at strengthening partnerships between women’s groups, civil society, PRIs and local government to facilitate greater cross learning, knowledge and information sharing, access to resources and technical capacities and wider dissemination of tested social mobilization approaches. It is also to facilitate dialogue between women’s groups, NGOs and policy makers for influencing relevant policies and programmes.
The project is being implemented through 17 NGOs such as PRADAN, LGSS, FEMALE, AAA and KSRA in Jharkhand; VLKALPA, LOKADURSTI, WIDA and AMMA in Orissa; and ASTHA, FES, ARAVALI, SAMARTHAK, BAIF, SANKALP, GVT and CECOEDEDCON in Rajasthan.
A total amount of Rs. 3.62 crore has been released under the project to various implementing agencies during the year 2006-07. The Ministry of Rural Development will also ensure that an equal amount is available from `Swarnjayanti Gram Swarojgar Yojna’ for appropriate activities to be undertaken by women’s groups.
by rakesh | Nov 17, 2006 | India News
India and Iran today held discussions on two important projects between the two countries for supplying natural gas to India. These projects include the sale of 5 million tones LNG per year and the Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) Gas Pipeline Project. Various issues relating to these projects came up during a meeting between the Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Shri Murli Deora and the Iranian Foreign Minister Mr. Monachehr Mottaki, here today.
The two Ministers referred to the need of strengthening the long standing friendly relations between Iran and India particularly in the context of the rapid economic growth in India and its growing energy requirements.
Shri Deora emphasized Indian commitment to the projects and told media persons after the meeting that India will have a look at the fresh proposals from Iranian side regarding LNG contract which was signed in June 2005 at Tehran. He also informed that the consultants appointed for suggesting a pricing formula for IPI Gas Pipeline Project is expected to submit their report soon. This will be followed by Secretary level talks between the three countries at Teheran. Mr. Mottaki also reiterated that Iran is keen to go ahead with both these projects to further strengthen relationship between India and Iran.
by rakesh | Nov 16, 2006 | Business
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India, Thursday, November 16, 2006 — (Business Wire India) — Kingfisher Airlines, India’s fastest growing private carrier and the first airline in India to offer a premium first class service on domestic routes, today announced the launch of 58 new flights across 15 new routes, connecting 9 important cities across the length and breadth of India. The cities between which new services have commenced are Varanasi, Pune, Bangalore, Coimbatore, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Nagpur, Jammu and Hyderabad. The launch of these new routes takes the number of daily flights operated by Kingfisher Airlines to 130 flights connecting 23 destinations.
The Airbus A321 is the largest passenger liner in India in domestic aviation and Kingfisher Airlines is the only airline in the country which has three brand new Airbus A321 super liners in its fleet. The fourth A321 aircraft is set to join the fleet later this week. In the month of November, Kingfisher Airlines acquired 4 A321 aircraft and 1 ATR72-500 aircraft taking the fleet size upto 22 aircraft.
Commenting on the launch of these new routes, Dr. Vijay Mallya, Chairman and CEO, Kingfisher Airlines Limited said, “Kingfisher Airlines has redefined the whole experience of flying and has come to be regarded as an airline that sets new benchmarks in service excellence for the industry as a whole. The simultaneous launch of 58 new flights in one go represents a quantum jump in number of daily services offered by Kingfisher Airlines and marks yet another milestone in the scorching pace that Kingfisher Airlines has set for itself to capture market share. The pace of growth coupled with our constant endeavour to raise the bar has endeared Kingfisher Airlines to its guests and this is sure to catapult Kingfisher Airlines into the position of a market leader by the year 2010”.
by rakesh | Nov 16, 2006 | Env & Geography
The Union Cabinet today gave its ex-post-facto approval to the amendments carried out in the Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Bill, 2005, which were moved and passed by Parliament.
It would facilitate implementation of the urgent recommendations of the Tiger Task Force appointed by the Prime Minister.
It would strengthen conservation of tigers and other endangered species of wild animals through effective combating of wildlife crimes by constituting the Tiger and Other Endangered Species crime Control Bureau (Wild Life Crime Control Bureau).
It would reinforce the ongoing initiatives to conserve tiger and other endangered species of wild animals in the wake of present threats and need for viable habitat.
It will address the growing concern of public in saving the tiger.
by rakesh | Nov 16, 2006 | India News
The Union Cabinet today decided to grant permission for setting up of Community Radio Stations to non-profit organizations and educational institutions as per the eligibility, procedure and terms and conditions given below :
I. The following types of organizations would be eligible to apply for Community Radio licences :
a) Community based organizations, which satisfy the following basic principles :
i) It should be explicitly constituted as a ‘non-profit’ organization and shall have a proven record of at least three years of service to the local community.
ii) The Community Radio Station (CRS) to be operated by it should be designed to serve a specific well-defined local community.
iii) It should have an ownership and management structure and is reflective of the community that the CRS seeks to serve.
iv) Programmes for broadcast should be relevant to the educational, developmental, social and cultural needs of the community.
v) It must be a Legal Entity i.e. it should be registered ( under the registration of Societies Act or any other such act relevant to the purpose.
These would include civil society and voluntary organizations, State Agriculture Universities (SAUs) institutions, Krishi Vigyan Kendras, Registered Societies and Autonomous Bodies and Public Trusts registered under Societies Act or any other such act relevant for the purpose. Registration at the time of application should at lease be three years old.
b) Educational institutions
II. The following would not be eligible to run a CRS :
a) Individuals;
b) Political Parties and their affiliate organizations; including students, women’s, trade unions and such other wings affiliated to these parties.
c) Organisations operating with a motive to earn profit;
d) Organisations expressely banned by the Union and State Governments.
The Cabinet also authorized the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting to finalize the terms & conditions and procedures.
This decision will give the following benefits :-
i) A strong and vibrant Community Radio System will enhance pluralism and sustain diversity of cultures and languages.
ii) Strengthen decentralization and participatory governance and enable dialogues within communities.
iii) Dissemination of information to the rural communities about the issues related to agriculture, education, health, social welfare etc.
